Mass Timber 101

Can we build tall buildings out of wood? We can. Modern Mass Timber is a new system of building materials that also beats steel and concrete in strength by weight, with only a fraction of their "carbon costs." It's time to learn about this revolutionary material, and we have the perfect professionals to explain: Michelle Roelofs, a structural engineer at Arup who specializes in Mass Timber, and Tanya Luthi, the Director of Engineering at Timberlab, a contractor specializing in Mass Timber structures. They will lead us through a primer on the history and types of Mass Timber, especially Cross Laminated Timber, or CLT and explain its virtues and challenges.

Michelle Roelofs
Michelle Roelofs is an Associate Principal and Structural Engineer in Arup’s New York office. Her expertise in mass timber dates back a decade to the early days of Mass Timber construction on the team for 475 W 18th St., one of winners the 2014 the US Tall Wood Competition, which is featured in our current exhibition.

Tanya Luthi
Tanya Luthi, the Director of Engineering at Timberlab, manages mass timber structural engineering strategy, analysis, as well as industry research and development.